Index system for cards and the like



Sept 6, 1927.

INDEX SYSTEM FOR CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Se t. 29 1926 5 SheetSSheet'l arrow H601, fi iz imm lf;gye,

w w -r Sept. 6,1927.

w. HoGE' INDEX SYSTEM FOR CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29. 1926 3 Sheets-SheetZ 1,641,488 Sept. 6, I W,HOGE

- INDEX SYSTEM FOR CARDS AND THE'LIKE Filed Sept. 29. .1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 am wag Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

I UNITED, S ATES PATENT oFF cE.

. WILLIAM EDGE, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL FIREPBOOFIN COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

INDEX sYs'rEMroR CARDS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed September 29, 1926. Serial No. 138,480. 1

This invention relates to an indexing system for assisting in the filing and locating of classified information such as record cards, files, different subjects in bound books and the like.

To that end the invention contemplates a system which is primarily a numerical index wherein the numerical references predominate, thereby greatly facilitating filing and location of subject matter and insuring ac curacy. While the invention uses a combination of numerals and parts of the alphabet, nevertheless the alphabetical feature is subsidiary because the letters of the alphabet are intended merely to serve the purpose of directingthe operator to the section of the file desiredto locate the name, file, or subject matter searched for.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indexing system which when used in connection with the filing of cards may be made in standard sets of minimum size capable of being readily expanded as the size of the file increases by using additional i standard units as distinguished from the utilization of special guides having individual values such for instance as is done in some systems now in use.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide in combination with the guide card having thereon the main letter of the alphabet, a pilot guide omitting the first letter of the name as well as the vowels a, e, i, o, u and y and the consonants h and W, no key or code letters and no sounds or words or portions thereof being used to determine the location of the name searched for. In that-connection the function' of the pilot guide resembles that of the key board of a typewriter, and the spelling of the name is carried to the first, second or third additional consonant, depending upon th size of the known arrangement of the guides located behind the pilot guide ;Thus,-

the present system contemplates a numerical system of locating and identifying cards by a letter of the alphabet and a series of numerals. Y Y g With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical-embodiment of the invention-is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a View illustrating the combination of the master guide with the pilot and a major numerical card.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the addition of an intermediate numeri-' vcal card to the combination of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the additionof one of the minor numeri cal cards to the combination of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a View illustrating the addition to Fig. 4 of one of the given name or initial cards.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the invention into effect it is proposed to provide units or sections corresponding to the various letters of the alphabet, the said units each including a master guide A. having thereon the letter of the alphabet; a pilot guide B, and a series of major numerical guides C, a series of intermediate numerical cards D together with a plurality of minor numerical guides E which in turn may cooperate with given name or initial guides F.

The master guide A is preferably tabbed in the first position to designate the first, first two, or the first three letters of the name depending upon the size of the index required for a given list'of names. In the example shown the master guide card A is provided with the indexing leter B of.

is the broad-tab guide B whichconstitutes the pilot or reference guide since it bears the primary classification data for the system. The tab of this guide'pref erably extends substantially all the Way across the top thereof, and is divided-into six spaces by the printed rules 1, thereby providing six sections or spaces for receiving reference data. As previously indicated eight-,of -the and the consonants h and w. The remaining eighteen consonants are grouped into six divisions in combination with a numeral corresponding to each division, the manner of grouping being suggested by the way that the various consonants are uttered, .or each numerical tion numeral andletter unit.

group comprising those that have substantially similar-sounds. By grouping the let-- ters into six divisions, those having the similarities mentioned may bereadily grouped to assist in the filingaiid location of names spelled differently but pronounced alike.v

Thus, the pilot or reference guide B contains six divisions or groups of consonants of the alphabet; numbered serially, and the consonants actin as a spelling guide.

Behind each pilot guide there is provided a series of major; intermediate and 11111101 ides as well as a series of givenname gui es, the same being respectively designated as G, D,--E and F. Thus, there are three numerical units and one combina- The'first 1111+ mericalunit consists of seven ides numbered from 0 in multiples o 1000 up 'to 6000. The second or intermediate 'unit con sists of six guide cards numbered in multiples of one hundred from 100 to 600, and the third or minor numerical unit consists of six guides numbered in multi les often from 10 to-6O. The fourth combination numericaland letter unit, called the given name or initial unit includes nine cards (four of -which are shown) havingthe letters of the alphabet distributed thereon. One or more of these units appear behind each pilot guide regardless of the size or the length of names to be indexed and as they are standard in every index, the indexing is simplified. The

operator soon becomes so familiar with-them t at reference becomes automatic and instantaneous'.

The guides of the section- F will be used for sub-indexing cards behind the-numerical guides according to' given namesyfirst ini tials' or second names and are providedfto' givea further means of indexing a particular numericall identified section. 1

From the ioregoing it will be apparent that the tem in whlchthe numerical features predom- Fig; 2 illustratesthe-combination of a master guide and a pilot guide with oneof the major numerical guides which will pro-'1 vide for locatin .a name having a consonant falhngunder t e first section. If the. name had two consonants ial'ling under the section on the pilot card, the card bearing such name would be classified behind theintermediatenumerical card 100 as shown in Fig.3. 'Ifthe cardsfiled behind theinterpresent invention provides a syscards E may be added asshown in Fig.4.

These *gu'idesE are preferabl tabbed in the; fourth position, and the car s behind them may be"v further sub-divided by using. the

given-name cards F as shown in Fig. 5. p

j In using the index the name to be found or filed is analyzed and identified by the data on the pilot'cardv B, and thenfiled accordingly.

For example, referrin to Fig. 5, suppose that it is desired to' fie or locate a card bearing the name Babson, G. R); the first stepis to locate the section of the file by means of the master guide A. nthis case it would be the master card having the letter of the alphabet B thereon. The first consonant following the notation on the master guide is then located on the pilot guide B and the number of the section on I the pilot guide in which this consonant appears gives the first or major numerical guide behind which the name may be found. Thus, in the illustration given b being the first consonant, the card bearing the name Babson, G. B. would be located behind major numerical ide 1000 and it there is a congestion behind this guide large enough to use a set of intermediate numerical guides. the name wouldbe' behind the minor numerical guide 200 located behind major numerical guide 1000.- Thenif there is a set fof minor numerical cards behind the intermediate card200 the card of Bab-. son would go behind the minor card numbered 50. p W In. locating the name Babson, G. R. the master ide B 'wguld show the section or the fi ein which the name is located and asgB and'a.play no further part in the se rob, the, first consonant b would show 135 is 'a congestion behind the intermediate guide 200 that necessitate-furthemindexing the" minor numerical ,cardsare brought into use .1

as above explained and it it is desired to classify the card [according to the given name or initials a set'of given name guides 1X5 would be used andv the card bearing the. name BabsomG. B. would be located be- Q 'ven name do 4 G-H. The identification number or the card'would thenbe tirel by number.. This makes the refiling *quie er and more accurate; 1 r

In connection with the major numerical cardsO it is to be notedthat it was previousl mentioned that seven major numerical car were used while only six intermediate and six numerical cards were used. In expla'n'ation'of that it may be pointed out that cards bearing names having names thereon 3-1254. 3 This number would ap ear on the card so that refilin "would be one ennants H and W may be placed behind the card bearing the naught or 0, and in front of the 1000 card. For instance, the name Bay having the vowel a and the vowel y would not fall under any of the six dlvisions on the pilot guide card B, and therefore it would be classified under the 0 card of the major numerical card unit. A card bearing the name Bay therefore would bear the code designation BO.

Also with the four sets of cards, namely the major intermediate and minor numerical cards, and the given name cards, it will be apparent that the present system provides a perfect numerical unit wherein the given name cards constitute the units, the minor numerical cards constitute the tens, the intermediate numerical cards constitute the hundreds and the major numerical cards constitute the; thousands. It will therefore be apparent that the possibilities of'expansion by this system are unlimited, and

in systems wherein a million or more cards are to be classified the present novel arrangement is particularly helpful in the quick and accurate location and filing, of cards.

From the foregoing it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention 'will be readily apparent. The index is especially adapted to large record lists of names and in addition to being simple to manufacture, install and operate, permits. of unllmited expansion. It will never .be neces-' sary to discard any guide because when one guide of a sectlon ceases to function t can be moved to another section.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the in vention will be readily aparent to those i guide card having a letter of the alphabet skilled in the art, and it w1ll of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. An index system for numerically classitying subject matter. including a master index element and a pilot index element having thereon certain pilot letters of the alphabet identified with numerals, and a plurality of numerical indices related to the numerals on the ilotcard in accordance with the numerical order of pilot letters in the given word.

2. An 'ndex system including a master guide card having an alphabetical designation, a pilot guide in juxtaposition to' the master guide and provided with a plurality of indexing spaces, each of which spaces is numbered and also contains consonants grouped as a spelling guide, and numerical guides containing numerical designations re- "lated to the numbered spaces on the pilot card and occupying a position behind said pilot-card.

3. An index system includinga master guide card havin an alphabetical designation, a pilot'gui e in juxtaposition to the master guide and provided with a plurality of indexing spaces, each of which spaces is numbered and contains consonants grouped as a spelling guide, and a major numerical guide having thereon numerical designations related to vthe numbered spaces of the pilot card and occupying a position behind the same.

4:. A card index system including in combination witha master guide card having thereon an alphabetical symbol and numerical guide cards having numerical symbols, of

a pilot guide card arranged between the master guide card and the numerical guide cards and bearing thereon combined numerical and. letter designations grouped as a spelling guide, said numerical designations being related to the numerical symbols of the numerical guide cards.

which contains a. numerical designation and I a certain consonant designation or designationsforming a spelling guide, the Illllllelbcal and consonant designations on thepilot card being coordinated respectively with the designations on the numerical cards.

. 6. An index system including a. master major numerical guide having thereon a numerical designation related to one of the numbered spaces on the pilot guide and occupying a position behind the pilot guide, and a plurality of series of numerical guides arranged behind the major numerical guide and having thereon numerical designations related to the numbered spaces on the pilot 'de. 'l. An index system including a mas er guide card having a letter of the alphabet thereon, a pilot guide in juxtaposltion to the master guide and provided wlth a plurality of. indexing spaces, each of which spaces is numbered and contains one or more consonants grouped as a spelling guide, a major numerical ide having thereon a numerical designatlon related to one of the cupying a position behind the pilot guide,

bered spaces on the pilot card, and a series an intermediate numerical guide arranged behind the. major numerical guide and having thereon a numerical designation related to one of the numbered spaces on the pilot guide, a minor numerical guide arranged behind the intermediate numerical guide and a given name or initial guide arranged behind the minor numerical guide and having both numerical and alphabet designations. Y

8. A card index system including a master guide card having a projecting tab provided -with an alphabetic, designation, a pilot guide card arranged in juxtaposition to the master" guide card and-having a tab extendin approximately the full length there-' of, a p urality of indexing spaces formed on the tab of the pilot card and each space having therein a numeral and one .or more consonants of the alphabet grouped as a spelling guide, and a plurality of cards having projectingtabs arranged in different positions and each bearing a numerical designation relating to the numbered spaces on the pilot card.

9. A card index system including a master guide card having an alphabetical designation, a pilot guide card in juxtaposition to the master gulde card and provided with indexing spaces, each of which spaces is numbered and contains, one or more letters grouped as a spelling guide, and a plurality of'major, intermediate and minor numerig' cal guide cardsarranged behind the pilot card, there bein as many of eachofthe intermediate an minor numerical .guide cards as there are divisions on the pilot card, and each of said intermediate and minor numerical cards bearing a numerical designation relatedto the numbered spaces on the pilot card. i

10. A card index system including a master uide card having an alphabetical designation, a pilot guide card in uxtaposition to the master guide card and provided with indexing spaces, each of which spaces 1s numbered and contalns one or more letters grouped as'a spelling guide, and a. plurality of major and minor numerical guide cards arranged behind the pilot card,

numerical designation related tothe numof given name or initial cards adapted to be used behind one of the minor numerical cards and .bearin thereon numerals in sub..

multiples of ten elow the numerical designations of the. minor numerical cards and also bearing serially related letters of the alphabet. A

11. An index system including a master guide card having an alphabetical designation, a pilot guide card in juxtaposition to' the master guide card and provided with indexing spaces, each of which spaces is numbered and contains one or more letters grouped as a spelling-guide, and a series'of seven major numerical guide cards located behind the pilot card to provide six classifi-.

cation divisions numerically related to the 'numbers on the pilot card and the seventh card providing a guide for indexing wordshaving vowels and consonants not scheduled cards being tabbedin four positions corre-- sponding to units, tens, hundreds and thousands and bearing numbers numericallvrelated to the numbers on the pilot card.

13. An index system including a. master guide card having an alphabetical designation, a pilot guide card in juxtaposition to the master guide card and provided with a plurality of indexing spaces, each of which spaces is numbered and contains one or" more letters grouped to provide a spelling guide, a plurality of numerical guide units arranged behind the pilot guide card, one

ofsaid units containing one more'card than the number of spaces on the pilot card, and

another of-said units containin cardslhaving'thereon combined numera and letter designations, and the remainder A of said units containing as many guide cards as there are spaces on the pilot card.

' In testimony whereof hereunto affix my signature.

' WlLIa HOGE; 

